Llangwm village school site to be turned into home

PLANS to convert a Victorian era former primary school to a home have been given the go-ahead by Pembrokeshire County Council.
David Hanney had sought a change of use of the former Cleddau Reach VC Primary School, The Gail, Llangwm, which closed back in 2013.
The school closed after the construction of a new £6m school in the area.
A supporting statement said: “The school building has been empty for around 10 years and was showing signs of neglect and decay prior to the client’s purchase. The footprint and internal envelope of the building is large and they wished to create a home for themselves and to also create space for their extended family within the annex, making best use of the space available without the need for any extensions.
“The external envelope has no significant changes proposed to the front elevation, which sits within the conservation area, with the existing UPVC windows added some 20 years ago during its time as a school. The building has no other designations.”
It adds: “The front courtyard and the yard to the rear has a tarmac surface throughout, with the client wishing to add a small green space as well as planters to improve biodiversity. There is ample parking and this was one of the attractions to the property for the client, as they have a large campervan, as well as the family’s cars.”
Concerns had been made about an original scheme for the conversion in the village’s conservation area by the council historic building conservation officer, but amended plans are considered acceptable, an officer report said.
It added: “The site is located in a mainly residential area. The use of a primary school ceased a number of years ago, with the building remaining vacant for a number of years. There is limited scope for the former use to be reinstated, with a replacement primary school provided within the settlement, approximately 170m to the north-west of the site.”
It went on to say: “The amended scheme proposes minimal alterations to the external appearance of the building, with the addition of fenestration and amendments of existing door and window openings and external flues.
“The amended proposal would maintain the character of the former school and the wider conservation area.”
The application was conditionally approved.

Crime
Waste dumped at recycling centre leads police to drug factory near Cardigan

Man jailed after drug discovery sparked by vigilant staff
A TIP-OFF from staff at an Aberystwyth recycling centre has led to the discovery of a large cannabis factory in a derelict property near Cardigan — and landed a 20-year-old man behind bars.
Manuel Nerguti was sentenced to six months in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (July 11) after pleading guilty to producing a class B drug.
The court heard that on May 1 this year, workers at the Aberystwyth recycling centre reported a suspicious delivery: four to five bags of cannabis stalks, apparently dumped by men in a hired Ford Transit van.
Police acted quickly and intercepted the van later that afternoon on the road between Aberystwyth and Cardigan. Nerguti and two other men were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of cannabis, but were released without charge at the time, as no grow site had been located.
However, a month later, acting on new intelligence, Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at a derelict house in Bridell, near Cardigan. Inside, they discovered a sophisticated cannabis cultivation operation: 260 mature plants spread across five rooms and an attic, with the electricity supply illegally bypassed.
During the raid on June 7, Nerguti attempted to flee but was found hiding behind a washing machine in the garage.
He was charged and later pleaded guilty to producing cannabis.
Detective Constable Sam Garside, who led the investigation, praised the recycling centre staff for their quick thinking.
He said: “This result is thanks to the staff at the recycling centre for recognising that criminal activity was taking place and for alerting police quickly.
“We rely on the public to inform us of anything suspicious going on in their communities and we encourage people to get in touch if they suspect anything. We were able to use our local knowledge and police intelligence to execute a successful warrant and shut down an illegal cannabis factory.
“We are committed to continuing our drug operations across Dyfed-Powys and bringing offenders like Nerguti to justice.”
Police estimate the cannabis seized had a potential street value of up to £242,000.
More information on Operation Scotney — Dyfed-Powys Police’s campaign to tackle cannabis cultivation — including how to spot signs of a drug grow, can be found on their website.
News
Pembrokeshire County Council group to review ‘climate emergency’

A CALL for a group to review Pembrokeshire County Council’s decision to declare a climate emergency some six years ago has been backed by councillors.
In May 2019, the council declare a climate emergency following a notice of motion by Cllr Joshua Beynon calling on the authority to back the global consensus that climate change poses a risk to the well-being of future generations.
He had urged county councillors to back a motion to take “bold, decisive action” to fight “truly, catastrophic” climate change.
He called on the council to commit to becoming a zero-carbon local authority by 2030.
At the July meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, a notice of motion by Cllr Mike Stoddart called for the establishment of a working group to review the decision made by the council to declare a climate change emergency.
Cllr Stoddart’s motion said: “Given the turbulence on the global financial markets; the parlous state of the UK’s public finances; Pembrokeshire County Council’s projected funding gap; and the government’s softening of its policies on the switch to EV vehicles and heat pumps, this council establishes a seven person, politically balanced working group to review the authority’s decision to declare a climate emergency at its meeting on May 9, 2019.
“The working group will be asked to: (a) examine the effect of the emergency declaration on the level of council tax in Pembrokeshire and particularly the extent to which any such increases militate against the authority’s anti-poverty policies.
“(b) The cost of decarbonising the council’s housing stock and the effect this has had on the authority’s ability to finance the building of new housing.
“(c) The extent to which the council’s decarbonisation programme has contributed to a reduction of the risk of runaway global temperature increases, and (d) any other effects that the working group considers may have adversely impacted the wellbeing of the residents of Pembrokeshire.”
Cllr Stoddart’s notice of motion was previously supported at the June meeting of the council’s corporate overview and scrutiny committee, with a recommendation to full council in July meeting, to reinstate the Net Zero Working Group to review the contents of the notice of motion and, subject to the outcome of this review, review the future delivery of the Net Zero Action Plan.
Cllr Stoddart’s call was backed by Cllr Steve Alderman, and Cllr Rhys Jordan, who said: “I fully support this, it couldn’t come sooner; around England and Wales councils are looking at this, there’s been a huge push for a ‘net zero’ agenda at any cost, I don’t think we’re in a position to drive that.”
Cllr Aaron Carey said: “We’ve set ourselves some lofty goals, but we haven’t got the money to back it up.”
Members overwhelmingly agreed to back the June committee recommendations.
Sport
Cricket roundup: Centuries, collapses and dominant displays in Week 13

Carew crush Llangwm as Hicks and Davies shine; Cresselly extend Division 1 lead
CAREW produced the standout performance of the weekend as they demolished LLANGWM by 225 runs in a one-sided affair. TIM HICKS smashed 108 and NOAH DAVIES struck a superb 100 not out before destroying the Llangwm batting with 6-5.
CRESSELLY retained top spot in Division 1 with a 117-run win at LAWRENNY, with KYLE QUARTERMAINE hitting 81 and TOM ARTHUR claiming 4-27. Meanwhile, HERBRANDSTON defeated HAVERFORDWEST by 114 runs in a low-scoring contest, where DEAN JOHN and NATHAN BANNER starred with both bat and ball.
BURTON edged past NEYLAND by 3 wickets in a close finish, and WHITLAND chased 254 to beat SAUNDERSFOOT in a high-scoring thriller, thanks to an unbeaten 108 from GERAINT JONES.
DIVISION 1 RESULTS (Saturday, July 19):
- LAWRENNY 131 all out lost to CRESSELLY 248-8 by 117 runs
- HAVERFORDWEST 91 all out lost to HERBRANDSTON 205 all out by 114 runs
- CAREW 289-8 beat LLANGWM 64 all out by 225 runs
- BURTON 201-7 beat NEYLAND 197-8 by 3 wickets
- WHITLAND 259-5 beat SAUNDERSFOOT 253-4 by 5 wickets
LEAGUE TABLES
Division 1 Table
Team | P | W | L | Bat | Bowl | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cresselly | 13 | 12 | 1 | 47 | 56 | 231 |
Carew | 13 | 11 | 2 | 51 | 62 | 226 |
Herbrandston | 13 | 8 | 5 | 44 | 54 | 182 |
Saundersfoot | 13 | 7 | 6 | 49 | 50 | 176 |
Neyland | 13 | 7 | 6 | 44 | 52 | 168 |
Lawrenny | 13 | 7 | 6 | 39 | 54 | 165 |
Burton | 13 | 5 | 8 | 45 | 47 | 142 |
Whitland | 13 | 5 | 8 | 45 | 36 | 135 |
Haverfordwest | 13 | 3 | 10 | 39 | 42 | 113 |
Llangwm | 13 | 0 | 13 | 24 | 26 | 50 |
Division 2 Table
Team | P | W | L | Bat | Bowl | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St Ishmaels | 13 | 11 | 2 | 53 | 61 | 227 |
Narberth | 12 | 9 | 3 | 55 | 55 | 220 |
Hook | 13 | 10 | 3 | 58 | 50 | 211 |
Pembroke | 13 | 9 | 4 | 63 | 53 | 206 |
Llechryd | 13 | 7 | 6 | 52 | 47 | 172 |
Cresselly II | 13 | 6 | 7 | 49 | 37 | 150 |
Johnston | 13 | 5 | 8 | 49 | 50 | 149 |
Carew II | 13 | 3 | 10 | 48 | 43 | 124 |
Llanrhian | 13 | 3 | 10 | 55 | 26 | 111 |
Burton II | 12 | 1 | 11 | 31 | 22 | 63 |
Division 3 Table
Team | P | W | L | Bat | Bowl | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pembroke Dock | 12 | 10 | 2 | 40 | 54 | 221 |
Fishguard | 13 | 11 | 2 | 45 | 50 | 215 |
Lamphey | 13 | 8 | 5 | 48 | 48 | 178 |
Haverfordwest II | 13 | 6 | 6 | 52 | 47 | 164 |
Hundleton | 13 | 6 | 7 | 42 | 41 | 147 |
Stackpole | 12 | 5 | 7 | 45 | 36 | 134 |
Laugharne | 12 | 5 | 6 | 43 | 35 | 134 |
Kilgetty | 12 | 4 | 7 | 47 | 27 | 134 |
Neyland II | 13 | 2 | 11 | 39 | 28 | 87 |
Hook II | 11 | 3 | 7 | 34 | 19 | 83 |
Division 4 Table
Team | P | W | L | Bat | Bowl | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pembroke II | 13 | 12 | 1 | 57 | 55 | 236 |
Saundersfoot II | 13 | 10 | 2 | 51 | 52 | 203 |
St Ishmaels II | 13 | 9 | 4 | 58 | 50 | 198 |
Crymych | 13 | 8 | 4 | 52 | 44 | 176 |
Lawrenny II | 13 | 7 | 5 | 46 | 47 | 164 |
Haverfordwest III | 13 | 5 | 6 | 50 | 39 | 159 |
Carew III | 13 | 4 | 6 | 48 | 30 | 118 |
Llangwm II | 13 | 2 | 11 | 56 | 27 | 103 |
Llanrhian II | 13 | 1 | 10 | 44 | 24 | 98 |
Narberth II | 13 | 2 | 11 | 42 | 24 | 87 |
Division 5 Table
Team | P | W | L | Bat | Bowl | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Herbrandston II | 13 | 11 | 2 | 50 | 58 | 228 |
Llechryd II | 13 | 9 | 3 | 53 | 50 | 206 |
Pembroke Dock II | 13 | 9 | 3 | 54 | 49 | 197 |
Whitland II | 11 | 6 | 4 | 42 | 29 | 153 |
Cresselly III | 12 | 4 | 7 | 49 | 36 | 127 |
Hundleton II | 12 | 4 | 7 | 41 | 27 | 112 |
Haverfordwest IV | 12 | 3 | 8 | 45 | 26 | 111 |
Neyland III | 12 | 0 | 12 | 40 | 14 | 53 |
Division 6 Table
Team | P | W | L | Bat | Bowl | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pembroke III | 12 | 9 | 1 | 36 | 45 | 180 |
Llechryd III | 9 | 6 | 2 | 32 | 33 | 145 |
H’West/Cresselly | 11 | 3 | 7 | 24 | 34 | 114 |
Lamphey II | 12 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 25 | 104 |
Kilgetty II | 12 | 2 | 8 | 24 | 24 | 68 |
Whitland III | 10 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 24 |
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